Improved snap-hook



SAMUEL BABCOCK, OF MIDDLE'FOVN, CONNECTICUT.

ynnenovsu SNAP-Hook..

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 10,S06, dated December 8, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known .that I, SAMUEL BABcocK, a resident of Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improved Snap-Hook or Mousing-Hook; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the following specification and Vrepresented in the accompanying drawings,

improved manufacture of snap-hook or mousing-hook, asniade not only with its eye in one piece with its hook, and with its tongue not only provided with lips to embrace the shank of lthe hook and form a joint therewith, but with a recess arranged substantially as described, and for the purpose of carrying a straight or leaf spring disposed within such recess in the manner as hereinafter specified'. In the drawings, adenotes the eye, while b is the hook, they being cast or forged in one piece of metal. The tongue is represented at c as formed with a long recess, d, extending nearly through it longitudinally. It also has two circular lips, e e, arranged at its upper end, and so as to embrace the upper part, f, of the shank of the hook b, and form therewith a joint through which a joint-pin, g, is to pass and connect the tongue to the hook.

Vithin the recess Z of the tongue there is a leaf-spring, h, which at or near its lower end is fastened to the tongue by a nut, 1', while at its upper end it bears against a projection,- 1, formed on the shank ol' the hook, as shown in the drawings. This spring serves to press the tongue close up to the extremity orA part l ot' the hook.

I am aware of the snap and monsing hooks described or set forth in the United States Patents numbered ZLST and 30,084, and therefore I dp not claim them or the peculiar arrangement oftheir parts. In the iirst One-- viz, that numbered 2l,ST$l-although the hook and eye aie in one niece. the lips are formed on the hook and not on the tongue, as in my improvement; and furthermore, the hook and tongue are formed to receive a spiral spring, whereas the tongue only of my hook is recessed to receive a leaf-spring. The objection to the spiral spring is that, after being in use it is liable to lose its elasticity and become set, so as to impair the correct operation of the tongue; and, furthermore, the recessing or cutting away of the shank of the hook in order to receive the spring greatly weakens the shank and renders it liable, to break off under a severe strain. In 'my invention the shank is not recessed to receive the spring, and therefore its strength is lnet impaired by any such recess.

In the snap-hook shown in Patent No. 30,084 the eye is formed in one piece with the tongue, and consequently the stiaimeirV the hook is borne by the joint-pin of the eye. This renders such joint-pin, although provided with lips, liable to soon work loose or break.

My improved snap-hook, owing to its pecuA liar construction, is very strong and little liable to become broken under great strain while in use. Furthermore the hook and the eye can be cast or founded in one piece, without the necessity of subsequently twisting the shank of the hook, as becomes necessary when the lips are formed on the upper part of the hook itself, in which case, in order to draw the pattern from the mold, it has to be formed with the point of its hook arranged askew relatively to the shank, the parts after having p been cast requiring to have the shank twisted to bring them into correct positions. This twisting of the shank weakens it and ren ders it liable to break when the hook may be in use.

I am aware of the `snap-hooks described in the Letters Patent respectively numbered 35,931, 39,659, and :$9,670. I do not claim either of them, or their modes-ot construction, as embodying my invention, which is as much an improvement on the orr'linary'snaphook asis either of the others to which I have alluded, and besides causes my improved snaphook to possess advantages notl incident lo either of the others.

I claim as my invention e 4o.so6

The improved nmnufact-ure of Simp-hook as spring disposed'within such recess, in manner made, not only with its eye in one piece with as hereinbefore explained. its hook, and wil-l1 its vtongue not only provided with lips to embrace the Shank of the SAML BABCOCK' llool; und form njont; therewith, but-with a itnessesz .recess arranged substantially as described, ARTHUR W. BACON,

and the purpose ot' carrying a straight or leaf ALFRED HALL. 

